Alan Franklin Blanchard, of Stonington, and Lake Wales, Fla., died peacefully at his home in Lake Wales, Fla., March 12, 2026, surrounded by his wife of 58 years, Ann, his family, and his adoring dog, Posey.
Born in Washington, D.C., to Alan J. Blanchard and Elizabeth Shephard, Alan grew up in West Hyattsville, Md. He attended Phillips Academy (Andover) on a scholarship, then was awarded a ROTC Naval Scholarship to study at Yale University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Alan liked to claim that, as a scholarship student, he spent his entire college career in the library – though his wide circle of friends and active social life suggested otherwise, and ultimately led him to meet his wife, Ann. Alan cherished his time at Andover and Yale and the lifelong friendships he formed at each.
His post-college Naval service led him all over the world, including time serving on the USS Intrepid, as well as joining a historic expedition to Antarctica. In 1963, Alan participated in the first non-stop flight from Cape Town, South Africa, to McMurdo Station, Antarctica on a “plane with skis,” as he would tell his children. Alan’s time in the Navy also sparked a lifelong love of sailing and spending time on the water, a pursuit he continued for many years, often conscripting his family to join him.
After the Navy, Alan earned his master’s degree from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, moving to New York City to join McKinsey & Company after graduation. Over the next twenty-five years, his career spanned a variety of financial, consulting, and government positions, including roles at Goldman Sachs, working for Senator Jacob Javits, serving as the Executive Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, and starting his own investment firm.
Alan spent the final phase of his career as the President of the Church Pension Fund, where he found great personal and professional satisfaction in a job that brought together so many of his talents, interests, and love of ceremony. Having grown up the son of civil servants, he understood intimately the financial challenges faced by those in public service, and the mission of ensuring clergy and their families were well cared for resonated with him deeply.
Alan never tired of grappling with life’s big questions, whether in conversation, or in one of his reflective missives, all while bringing his playful sense of humor. A gifted public speaker, he could deliver a speech simultaneously sincere and irreverent, finding the right balance between humor and heart. Music also brought him great joy, both as a listener and a participant. An avid singer with a strong voice, he sang whenever possible with gusto. While some of his more notable performances occurred with the University Glee Club at Carnegie Hall, he was just as happy to deliver a boisterous rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
Alan loved the many communities he spent time in, particularly in Stonington, and in later years, Mountain Lake, Fla. A member and former commodore of the Wadawanuck Club in Stonington, Alan could often be found playing or watching tennis, energetically gasping and clapping for all players, particularly his children and grandchildren. Winters brought Alan and his enthusiastic singing voice south to Florida. He threw himself into all aspects of life there, enjoying days of tennis, golf, croquet, and needlepoint, and he spent his final days supported by that same community.
He is survived by his wife, Ann; his three children, Deborah Blanchard, A. Elliott Blanchard and James Blanchard, their spouses, Jack Lynch, Ashley Snowdon Blanchard and Ashley Marissa Blanchard, and his grandchildren Lila Lynch, Grant and Annabel Blanchard and Theodore Blanchard.
A memorial service will be held in Stonington, in June.
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Published by The Day on Mar. 29, 2026.
“It is with deep sorrow that I share the news of the passing of Alan F. Blanchard, who served as CEO and President of The Church Pension Fund (CPF) from 1991 to 2004 and as President Emeritus since his retirement. He will be remembered with deep gratitude and respect for his extraordinary leadership, his steady vision, and his unwavering commitment to the Church Pension Group (CPG) and The Episcopal Church.
Alan’s contributions to enriching the lives of plan participants were wide-ranging. One of his most enduring achievements was the creation of CPF’s remarkable investment team, whose expertise and disciplined approach ultimately contributed to the fund’s assets nearly quadrupling during his tenure. This financial strength made possible an extensive program of benefit enhancements for active and retired clergy, surviving spouses, and lay employees—improvements that continue to support the well-being of Church workers today.
Alan was also a champion of modernization. He was the first person in the organization to receive a personal computer—an early and symbolic step that ushered in a new era of technological advancement at CPG. His willingness to embrace innovation helped lay the groundwork for the digital capabilities and operational efficiencies that continue to benefit the organization today.
In addition, Alan recognized the power of data long before it became commonplace in organizational decision-making. It was his foresight and conviction that led to the creation of our Research & Data team. By establishing this function, Alan positioned CPG to use data-driven insights to better understand our participants, strengthen our products, programs, and services, and support thoughtful planning.
During his tenure, Alan guided CPG through more than a decade of meaningful transformation and innovation. His legacy continues to shape the work we do today, and his influence is felt throughout the organization and across the wider Church community.
MARY KATE WOLD, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH PENSION FUND The Church Pension Group (CPG) is a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church. It maintains three lines of business—benefits, property and casualty insurance, and publishing. CPG provides retirement, health, life insurance, and related benefits for clergy and lay employees of The Episcopal Church, as well as property and casualty insurance and book and music publishing, including the official worship materials of the Church. Follow CPG on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. cpg.org